Synchronized clock system of the series type



April 17, 1934. R LLEN 1,954,781

SYNCHRONIZED CLOCK SYSTEM OF THE SERIES TYPE Filed July 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l HHHHM! :3 Q INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY W, fin mMzb April 17, 1934. c ALLEN 1,954,781

SYNCHRONIZED CLOCK SYSTEM OF THE SERIES TYPE Filed July 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEYS W, im vdww Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC SYNCHRONIZED CLOCK SYSTEM OF THE SERIES TYPE Application July 24, 1930, Serial No. 470,465

13 Claims.

This invention relates to synchronized clock systems and more particularly it relates to synchronizing clock systems of the one wire type wherein synchronization is effected by controlling the direction of flow of the impulses by thev master clock and in which means are provided in the secondary clock comprising switching devices'and impulse accepting and rejecting devices for controlling the advance of the clock.

More particularly the present application relates to improvements and a modification of the construction shown and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 447,482, filed April 26, 1930. In the system described in the foregoing application the various secondary clocks were in parallel relation to one another and while associated with a single circuit were disposed across the outgoing and return mains of that single circuit and in parallel with each other.

According to the present invention provision is made for providing a series circuit which extends serially from clock to clock and through the various clocks with a single outgoing main and a single return or ground main. When the clocks are so disposed in a series circuit, a rearrangement of the accepting and rejecting devices and of the switching devices is required and accordingly the present invention has for its objects the provision of a system which will provide for such re-arrangement to permit series circuit operation.

A further object of the present invention re sides in the provision of a secondary clock suitable for series circuit operation with a single circuit from clock to clock in which a resistance device and a pair of impulse accepting and rejecting devices are provided in each secondary clock to the general end that amperage flow conditions in the series circuit may be maintained substantially unchanged, notwithstanding the cutting out of action of one or more of the im:- pulse magnets in the circuit.

In synchronized clock systems heretofore when series systems have been contemplated, one expedient has been to utilize polarized magnets for the impulse magnet devices of the secondary clocks and to utilize polarized armature devices for effecting certain controls of the clocks. With this type of synchronized system the polarized magnet windings were always maintained in circuit irrespective of changes in control conditions.

Other series synchronized systems have been proposed in which it was appreciated that if a magnet was cut out of circuit the absence of such magnet from the circuit had to be compensated for by the insertion of resistance placed in shunt around the magnet which was cut out of circuit. In such systems, however, difficulty was experienced in stepping off arrested clocks and to do this required an additional circuit and additional magnets in each clock.

The present invention relates to improvements of the foregoing synchronized series clock systems wherein a single circuit is utilized as in the polarized system but wherein use of polarized magnets is obviated, simple impulse magnets being provided and wherein compensating means is provided for shunting around impulse magnets which are out of circuit.

Accordingly, a. further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a synchronized clock system of the series impulse type in which simple impulse magnets can be utilized in the secondaries and in which a single circuit may be employed from clock to clock and only a single circuit and in which compensating means is provided which is adapted to be brought into shunting relation with the impulse magnet whose operation has been suspended.

Further and other objects of the present invention will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specification and claims and shown in the drawings, which by way of illustration show what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 1a taken together show a circuit diagram of the complete system; and

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the secondary clocks.

The master clock in its general details may be of any desired form, for example, it can be that shown and described in United States Patents Nos. 1,687,491 and 1,740,330. It is sufiicient to here state that the master clock includes the usual minute contacts designated 17 which close once a minute on the minute. There are also included contacts 19 which are the contacts for sending out the rapid or stepping impulses. There are also provided contacts 14 and while these contacts may be set to open or close at any desired time, according to the present embodiment, they are shown as adapted to be open from the 44th minute up to and including the 59th minute and 50 seconds thereafter and to be closed at all other times.

According to the particular circuit relations of the present application it will be noted that these contacts 14 are arranged in reverse relation so far as opening and closing is concerned as to the back to the transformer 102.

corresponding and similarly numbered contacts in the patents referred to. Contacts 16 are also provided which are adapted to close. after the 59th minute. for example ten seconds after, and remain closed and re-open thirty seconds later at 59 minutes, 40 seconds.

Preferably adjacent the master clock, alternating current is supplied to the system from a pair of A. C. mains, designated 100 to a transformer generally designated 102. From the transformer there are tapped off three circuits, 'one circuit 104 leads serially from the transformer through contacts 16 and 19. In shunt with the circuit 104, just traced, is another circuit 108'which leads through contacts 14, through the reversing switch relay coil 44 and thence There is also a circuit 110 which leads from the juncture of circuits 106 and 104 back to a master relay coil 36 and thence back to the transformer. Adjacent the master clock there is also a rectifier 112. Preferably this rectifier is of the well known dry plate copper oxide type employing copper plates, certain plates having a coating of copper oxide thereon. Such rectifiers are now well known and on the market. The rectifier is supplied with alternating current through circuit 114 and current flow is established through it by the energization of coil 36 which when energized, closes relay points 38 and supplies alternating current from the transformer to the rectifier 112. 116 and 118 represent the output mains from the rec- Main 116 transmits current of positive polarity and main 118 transmits current of negative polarity to the switch points of the reversing switch generally designated 120. The rectifier is preferably connected up to supply full wave rectification.

The blades of the reversing switch are connected up as shown. One blade leads to ground and is designated G and the other connects to the line A which extends to the various secondary clocks which are serially connected in the AG circuit.

- Secondary clocks The secondary clocks which are employed are also of the usual impulse type and the details of the driving mechanism of such clocks need not be here described in detail since they are the same as set forth in the aforementioned patents and are also shown in detail in Bryce Patent No. 1,752,939. (See also Fig. 2 of the present application).

It is sufficient to here state that each secondary clock is provided with an impulse magnet designated 21 and with cam actuated contacts 25 and 26 controlled by a synchronizing cam through center blade 2'7. As shown in the drawings there are three secondary clocks designated X,

Y and Z. The X clock is shown on time, the Y clock is fifteen minutes fast and the Z clock is fifteen minutes slow. It will be understood that the relation of the cam devices to the contact elements 25 and 26 of each secondary clock preferably is such that the contacts 26 open at the 59th minute and concurrentlycontacts 25close.

' Contacts 26 re-close at the 60th minute impulse and contacts 25 correspondingly re-open at the 60th minute impulse. The contact parts in the secondary clocks are so arranged that at no time except momentarily during the shifting of the center blades are both sets of contacts open.

In each secondary clock there are also provided two polarity traps .of the copper oxide dry plate type, designated 122A and 122B in the drawings. There is also provided in secondary clock a resistance .designated 200. The value of this resistance is coordinated to the impulse magnet 21 in such a way that substantially the same current will flow in the series circuit A whether magnet 21 be in circuit or out of circuit. On each polarity trap, arrows of plus and minus signs have been provided indicating the sole direction in which current can flow through the polarity trap. As shown, trap 122A connects to line A and also to the terminal of impulse magnet winding which is connected to contacts 26. The resistance 200 is disposed in circuit between the upper contacts 25 and the upper end of the polarity trap 122B. A circuit 201 also connects at one end of the impulse magnet winding 21 and extends to connect with 1223 as shown and also out to a continuation of line A.

The various circuits and contacts of the master clock are adapted to impart a series of uni-directional minute impulses over line A beginning at the 60th minute up and including the 44th minute. These impulses are all of one polarity and may be considered as outgoing impulses flowing out on main A and returning back to the master clock through ground G. On the diagram such impulses are designated with the minus symbol and with the arrows pointing away from the master clock. When the 44th minute is reached, coil 44 becomes deenergized dropping the reversing switch 120 to reverse position from that shown. Thereafter the impulses which flow over theline A are impulses in the reverse direction to those previously transmitted over this line, accordingly these may be termed incoming impulses and they are designated as positive impulses, the arrows pointing towards the master clock. Incoming impulses continue to flow minute by minute over line A until the time that the two second contacts 19 come into action when a series of more rapid incoming impulses will flow on line A. The two second contacts 19 come into action upon the closure of contacts 16 at the time previously indicated.

It will be also understood that the circuit relations of the contacts in the master clock and the time of action of the contacts is such that the reversing switch 44 will be picked up to the position shown before the 60th minute impulses and upon the 60th minute an outgoing negative impulse will again fiow out over line A. Thus at 60 there will be a reversal of direction of the impulses on line A.

A number of various synchronizing conditions will now be described for the difierent clocks X, Y and Z.

Referring to clock X, it will be noted that contacts 26 are closed and contacts 25 are open. With this relation of contact elements, impulses of either direction, i. e. either positive or negative, may flow through 21 and cause operation of the impulse magnet and associated parts. Im-

pulse magnet will accordingly operate minute llllU and in shunt around the impulse magnet in the clock which may be traced as follows: through 25 now closed, resistance 200, polarity trap 122B and out to line A. This circuit provides for the series current flow through the secondary and maintains the amperage flow conditions, notwithstanding the fact that impulse magnet 21 is out of circuit. At the th minute the impulse flow over line A will again be made negative and accordingly, current can again flow to the impulse magnet 21 through the polarity trap 122A. This will permit resumed operation of the secondary and upon such resumption taking place contacts 25 will reopen and 26 will reclose. It will be appreciated that the rapid stepping up impulses are of positive character and these will not afiect the secondary clock because at the time these rapid stepping up positive impulses flow, contacts 26 are open with an on time clock.

Taking now clock Y which is a fast clock, it will be noted that in this clock the contacts 25 are shown as closed and 26 as open. As previously stated from the 44th minute to the 60th minute the impulses on line A are of positive character. Accordingly, at the time when contacts 25 close, there will be no available path for fiow of current to impulse magnet 21 and the clock will stop and remain stopped until the 60th minute when the direction of impulse is again reversed. As before with clock X, during the time that the impulse magnet 21 is kept from acting, the resistance 200 provides a shunt path to maintain amperage flow conditions on the series line A.

Referring now to clock Z. With this clock, contacts 26 will be closed at the time when the fast positive impulses flow on line A. Accordingly, the rectifier device 122A will be by-passed and the impulse magnet 21 will continue to operate until the clock is brought up to time whereupon contacts 26 will open and suspend further advance of the clock. As before upon the 60th minute the impulse flow will again be reversed and the clock will step off in unison with the master clock.

What I claim is:

1. In a synchronized clock system, a plurality of secondary clocks disposed on a single line circuit in series relation with each other, a single impulse magnet in each secondary clock for adthe magnet and thereby advance the clock.

2. A secondary clock adaptable for use in a series connected synchronized clock system in which a single circuit is provided extending to and through a plurality of clocks, said clock including a single impulse magnet for effecting all advancing movements of the clock including the V stepping off of the clock after its operation has been suspended, means for rendering said magnet efiective and inefiective and means for providing at desired times a compensating circuit path around such magnet to the single line circuit for the puri5ose of shunting around an impulse magnet which is ineffective.

3. A synchronized clock system including a number of secondary clocks of the impulse type, all connected serially in a single line circuit, which circuit provides for the entire supply of controlling-current to the clocks for impulse advance and synchronization, each of said secondary clocks having therein only a single non-po larized impulse magnet, and each of said secondary clocks having means for controlling energization of said impulse magnet by impulses in said line circuit, said means including a switching device controlled by said impulse magnet for controlling energization of said impulse magnet in accordance with the chronological condition of the clock.

4. A secondary clock of the impulse type adapted for synchronization control and impulse advance in a single series circuit extending through a plurality of clocks from a master clock, said secondary clock comprising an impulse magnet, a compensating circuit and a pair of polarity traps in each secondary clock, one connected to trap flow of impulses in one direction to the impulse magnet and the other connected to permit flow of the impulses which are prevented from flowing through the impulse-magnet by the first mentioned trap through a compensating circuit in shunt around the impulse magnet, and means for causing certain impulses, whose direction of flow is such as to cause them to be rejected by the first mentioned one of the pair of traps, to energize the impulse magnet.

5. A secondary clock according to claim 4 in which switching means are provided for selectively calling the impulse trapping means into operation in accordance with the chronological condition of the clock.

6. A secondary clock of the impulse type according to claim 4 in which the compensating crcuit is in series relation to one polarity trap and in which said compensating circuit includes a resistance device which is coordinated in value with the resistance of the impulse magnet.

7. In combination, a single line circuit, a plurality of secondary clocks adapted for use in a series synchronized impulse clock system in which controlling impulses flow in one direction or in another direction over said single circuit extending serially through said secondary clocks, each secondary clock comprising an impulse magnet, a polarity trap in circuit therewith, and connected to the line circuit, switching means controlled by the chronological condition of the clock for shunting around said trap and connecting the impulse magnet directly to the line circuit, another polarity trap connected to the line circult, and disposed in a compensating shunt circuit around the impulse magnet, and switching means controlled by the chronological condition of the secondary clock for opening and closing the aforesaid shunt circuit.

8. A synchronized clock system which comprises only a single series line circuit extending from clock to clock and to a master clock, with a single non-polarized impulse magnet in each clock for advancing the clock, with impulse accepting and rejecting means in the clock for controlling, the energization or non-energization of said single non-polarized impulse magnet, and

witlrmeans controlled by the chronological con- .45

single line circuit serially connecting all of the secondary clocks with the master clock, means in the master clock for sending out over the afore-- said single line circuit impulses including minute impulses and stepping up impulses and for relatively reversing the direction of flow of certain impulses, a single non-polarized impulse magnet in each secondary clock and means for controlling its energization by accepting or rejecting impulses in conjoint accordance with the direction of impulse fiow and the chronological condition of the secondary clock.

10. A secondary clock including an impulse magnet of non-polarized type, and means for accepting and rejecting impulses in accordance with the direction of flow of such impulses; said accepting and rejecting means having means cooperating therewith to by-pass rejected impulses ,around the impulse magnet when the magnet is inefiective on account of its impulses which would have actuated it having been rejected, and means controlled by the chronological condition .of the clock for causing energization' of the impulse magnet by impulses of such direction that they,

would be rejected by said first mentioned means.

11. A secondary clock system with a number of secondary clocks, with multiple circuits in each clock with synchronization control for the clock to accept impulses flowing in one direction and direct the same into one circuit and. to reject impulses flowing in the opposite direction, and to prevent their flow through said same circuit, and

other means to accept the previously mentioned rejected impulses and direct their flow in the other circuit and to reject the first mentioned accepted impulses and prevent their flow in said other circuit, each clock having means controlled by the chronological condition of the clock for causing impulses to advance and synchronize that clock.

12. A secondary clock comprising in combination, means including an impulse magnet for advancing the clock, means controlled by said impulse magnet limiting the advance of the clock in response to current impulses supplied to the clock in a predetermined direction, and means including an asymmetric conducting device for causing continued advance of the clock in response to current impulses supplied to the clock in the opposite direction.

13. A synchronized clock system including a RALPH CHARLES ALLEN. 

